Automatic drain valve for boats



Nov. 3, 1964 H. R. GILLETTE 3,155,067

- AUTOMATIC DRAIN VALVE FOR BOATS Filed June 10, 1963 INVENTOR. HAROLD R. GILLETTE BYW HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,155,067 AUTOMATIC DRAW VALVE FOR BOATS Harald R. Gillette, 292 E. 2nd N., Vernal, Utah, assignor of fifty percent to Glen H. Uooper, Vernal, Utah Filed June Ill, 1963, Ser. No. 286,846 3 Claims. (ill. 114-185) The present invention relates to automatic drain valves for boats and, more particularly, to a new and improved automatic drain valve which will be positive in actuation, provide a highly satisfactory valve seat of long life, and which will not require the drilling of auxiliary holes and the provision of auxiliary attachments for mounting the drain valve to a boat.

In the past a number of drain valves for boats have been devised. Those of which the inventor is aware appear to be deficient in certain respects, among which are the features that prior valves require for installation drilling a number of holes in the transom in order to accommodate mounting attachments for the automatic valve and, in addition, valves extant generally actually seat into a valve body, and, by virtue of general arcuate movement of the valve gate, will cause the same to wear against the valve seat so that a good seal is easily lost. Further, there is no provision in valves extant wherein suitable regulator means is supplied for adjusting the valve for various types of boats and speeds, for automatic operation thereof.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved automatic drain valve for boats.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic drain valve for boats wherein the valve mechanism seats along a fiat plane, rather than being inserted into the valve body proper.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic drain valve which operates somewhat on a plate valve principle, with the plate optionally having extensible means so that the operating point of valve actuation may be adjusted, as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic drain valve wherein the same can be conveniently mounted to the transom of a boat without necessitating the drilling of the transom and the provision of auxiliary attachments.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further ob jects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned view of the lower rear portion of a boat having mounted thereon the automatic valve of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the rear portion of the automatic valve shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the automatic valve shown in FIGURE 1, illustrating in particular a cut-out or apertured area in the valve plate which is desired for reasons hereinafter mentioned.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevation in reduced scale, similar to the rear portion of FIGURE 1, but illustrating a modified valve gate or seal and spring addition which are usable in practicing the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of modified plate structure which may be used in the valve of the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a rear view of the structure shown in FIGURE 5.

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In FIGURES 1-3 boat It) includes bottom 11 and transom 12. It will be understood that the boat can be of any particular structural design; for convenience of illustration only the transom and bottom are shown in fragmentary sectioned view.

The boat will, of course, include a conventional drain hole 13 transversely disposed centrally through the transom and a brass liner sleeve 14 mounted in drain hole 13 and rolled over at its ends to secure the same to the transom 12. Thus far, conventional construction has been described. Such small boats conventionally include a plug, not shown, which is conveniently removed from the brass liner sleeve 14 when it is desired to drain the boat. The present invention utilizes the existing drain hole 13 in mounting the present invention to the boat, and this, it will be noticed, without the necessity for the provision of additional mounting attachments, the necessity of drilling mounting holes in the transom, and so forth.

The automatic drain valve of the invention includes a hollow body 15 which is threaded at 16 and Which includes, mounted thereupon, gaskets 17 and 18, washer 19 and nut 29. These supply a good seal and tight, compression securement for the mounting of the valve of the present invention to a boat transom.

Hollow body 15 includes a flange 21 integrally secured thereto and preferably disposed such that the surface 22 thereof is positioned slightly forwardly of the rearward extremity (or valve seat) 23 of body 15 so as to expose the latter as an annular valve seat of, as seen, convex cross-section form.

Flange 21 is provided with ears 24 which, by means of pin 25 and spring 26, pivotally retain the spring-loaded valve plate 27; the latter includes aperture cars 28 accommodating such pivotal mounting.

Valve plate 27 is provided with a drilled and tapped aperture 29' for receiving machine screw 29, having an enlarged head 29", and resilient valve gate 39, preferably of disc form and made of neoprene. The resilient valve gate 30, as has been discovered, supplies a very high grade seal for the valve when the same contacts the annular valve seat 23.

Valve plate 27 preferably includes a lower apertured area 32 which provides release for water stream flow during boat travel, see FIGURE 3.

The structure illustrated in FIGURES 13 operates as follows. The automatic valve is installed as indicated, this by simply slipping out the conventionally installed plug which is inserted within the brass liner sleeve 14, and inserting the body 15 through the sleeve 14 and then securing the same with gaskets 17 and 18, washer 19 and nut 20.

When the boat is standing still or going at a very slow speed, then the valve is closed, this .by contact of the valve gate 30 with valve seat 23 under pressure of spring 26. As the boat increases speed, then the force of the water against the lower extremity of valve plate 27 will tend to rotationally displace valve plate 27 in a clockwise direction, with reference to FIGURE 1, about pin 25 and against the spring pressure of spring 26. This permits water within the boat to drain out the valve and, since the boat is moving forwardly, prevents water from flowing in the boat. As soon as speed is reduced the force of the water against valve plate 27 will not be so great as formerly, hence allowing the valve gate to close under the spring pressure of spring 26 at a predetermined boat speed, this depending upon the spring constant of spring 26.

FIGURE 4 indicates that, if desired, there may be disposed a one or two-turn spring 32 between the valve plate 27 and modified valve gate 33'. The valve gate is simply annularly relieved at 34, by way of example, to accommodate spring 32. Attachments 35, similar to attachments 29 in FIGURE 1, are this time supplied with a nut 36 for additional securement, as the bolt 37 of attachments 35 is slidingly disposed through aperture 38 of valve plate 27.

Such an inclusion of an additional spring as at 32 in FIGURE 4 will lend additional flexibility and'insure even a tighter seal over long periods of use of the device.

FIGURES S and 6 illustrate a modified valve plate 3? which is similar to valve plate 2.7 in FIGURE 1 but which includes an extension plate 40 having slots 41 and 42 accommodating attachments 43 and 44 securing the auxiliary extension plate 40 to plate 39. By virtue of the slots, the screw attachments 43 may be adjusted in respective drilled and tapped apertures 44 so that the extension plate 40 may be positioned up or down in accordance with the speed of the boat at which it is desired for the valve to open. Extension plate it) is purely an optional feature; however, it is quite desirable so that the valve may accommodate a wide range of types of boats and conditions.

Of particular importance in the invention is the fact that the valve device of the present invention need not have additional attachment means other than those shown directly mounted over hollow body 15. Furthermore, the provision of ears 24 insures that a completely flat engagement may be provided between valve gate 30 and valve seat 23, this owing to the fact that a valve gate does not proceed into the drain hole area and thereby chance leakage thereat owing to the pivotal movement about pin 25. Rather, the engagement of the valve gate with the valve seat is perfectly flat so that the arcuate movement about pin 25-will not cause the valve seal to wear.

It is important, in order that an adequate seal be maintained, that the valve gate 'be made of a suitable resilient material. Neoprene has served asan excellent material for use as a valve gate, this owing to the highly satisfactory resilience of most grades of this material and due to the unusually long life of neoprene in both salt and fresh water.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made vtu'thout departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, theairn in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. Automatic drain valve structure for boats including, in combination, a hollow body, compression means disposed upon hollow body for sealingly securing said hollow body in position through the existing drain hole of a boat transom, a flange integrally aflixed to and about said hollow body proximate the rearmost extremity thereof, a valve plate, aflat, resilient valve gate secured to said valve plate at the inner surface thereof and proximate said rearmost extremity of said hollow body and aligned with said hollow body, means pivotally securing said valve plate to said flange, means for 4 spring-loading said valve plate against said valve body, said valve plate extending beneath said vvalve bodyvand being adapted for movement away from said flange and against the spring pressure of said spring-loading means for selectively withdrawing said valve gate away from said valve body under water pressure, and wherein said structure includes spring means disposed between said valve plate and the adjacent surface of said valve gate.

2. Automatic drain valve structure for boats including, in combination, a hollow body, compression means disposed upon hollow body for sealingly securing said hollow body in position through the existing drain hole of a boat transom, a flange integrally aflixed to and about said hollow body proximate the rearmost extremity thereof, a valve plate, a fiat, resilient valve gate secured to said valve plate at the inner surface thereof and proximate said rearmost extremity of said hollow body and aligned with said hollow body, means pivotally securing said valve plate to said flange, means for spring-loading said valve plate against said valve body, said valve plate extending beneath said valve body and being adapted for movementaway from said flange and against the spring pressure of said spring-loading means for selectively withdrawing said valve gate away from said valve body under water pressure, and wherein said valve plate is provided with a lower relief area accommodating water stream passage.

3. Automatic drain valve structure for boats including, in combination, a hollow body, compression means disposed upon hollow body for sealingly securing said hollow body in position through the existing drain hole of a boat transom, a flange integrally affixed to and about said hollow body proximate to the rearmost extremity thereof, a valve plate, a flat, resilient valve gate secured to said valve plate at the inner surface thereof and proximate said rearmost extremity of said hollow body and aligned with said hollow body, means pivotally securing said valve plate to said flange, means for spring-loading said valve plate against said valve body, said 'valve plate extending beneath said valve body and being adapted for movement away from said flange and against the spring pressure of said spring-loading means for selectively withdrawing said valve gateaway from said valve body under water pressure, and wherein the rear extremity of said hollow body protrudes rearwardly of said flange and is annular and of convex crosssectional configuration, forming a seat thereat for said valve gate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,442,654 1/23 Douglas 251-298 X 2,655,121 10/53 Cuneo 114-183 2,730,062 1/56 'Mitchell ll4185 3,067,714 12/62 Allmand 114-185 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

ANDREW H. FARRELL, Examiner. 

1. AUTOMATIC DRAIN VALVE STRUCTURE FOR BOATS INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, A HOLLOW BODY, COMPRESSION MEANS DISPOSED UPON HOLLOW BODY FOR SEALINGLY SECURING SAID HOLLOW BODY IN POSITION THROUGH THE EXISTING DRAIN HOLE OF A BOAT TRANSOM, A FLANGE INTEGRALLY AFFIXED TO AND ABOUT SAID HOLLOW BODY PROXIMATE THE REARMOST EXTREMITY THEREOF, A VALVE PLATE, A FLAT, RESILIENT VALVE GATE SECURED TO SAID VALVE PLATE AT THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF AND PROXIMATE SAID REARMOST EXTREMITY OF SAID HOLLOW BODY AND ALIGNED WITH SAID HOLLOW BODY, MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING SAID VALVE PLATE TO SAID FLANGE, MEANS FOR SPRING-LOADING SAID VALVE PLATE AGAINST SAID VALVE BODY, SAID VALVE PLATE EXTENDING BENEATH SAID VALVE BODY AND BEING ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT AWAY FROM SAID FLANGE AND AGAINST THE SPRING PRESSURE OF SAID SPRING-LOADING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY WITHDRAWING SAID VALVE GATE AWAY FROM SAID VALVE BODY UNDER WATER PRESSURE, AND WHEREIN SAID STRUCTURE INCLUDES SPRING MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID VALVE PLATE AND THE ADJACENT SURFACE OF SAID VALVE GATE. 